Beginning the Year With a Blessing

In the reading from the Book of Numbers, the Lord speaks to Moses and tells him how He wishes the people to be blessed:

The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!

We have probably heard these words many times in the past, but perhaps, had never realized that they came directly from Scripture. This blessing is a wonderful way to begin the New Year and we should not hesitate to share this blessing with our family and friends; not only with these very words but also through our presence to others. We become a blessing for others because we are God's chosen ones.

As we see from the Letter to the Galatians, Paul reminds us so beautifully that we are not slaves, but the chosen of God. Because of Mary's acceptance of her role in salvation history, God gave His Son Jesus to be born of Mary and to redeem us, so that we could become the adopted sons and daughters of God and heirs to God's Kingdom.

We see that through Jesus' birth and our adoption as sons and daughters of God, we have also been given a heavenly mother in Mary. This gift surely brings us to a sense of deep gratefulness to God and a desire to thank Him.

How can we show God the gratitude that is due Him for all He has done for us? As this New Year begins, we can choose to make a resolution that we will be a blessing to others in all that we do and say.


~ Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God ~